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By Ben Adaji, Jalingo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief David Sabo Kente has declared that the coming of Governor Agbu Kefas to the APC will enhance the chances of the party in winning the 2027 gubernatorial election in the state.
Kente who disclose this in an interview with journalists on Monday noted that even though the APC is taking over the Government house through unconventional means, it is still a major boost to the party especially in the run-up to the 2027 gubernatorial election.
“The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has not performed very well in the state even under governor Kefas and that might be one of the reasons behind the defection of the Governor to the APC that is becoming increasingly the coveted bride.
“It is important to note that whoever will emerge as the candidate of the APC will depend on interplay and dynamics of members of the party. It is understood that the President made contact with governor Kefas and invited him to join the party. As obedient members of the party we have no reason to reject whoever the president wants.
“Governor Kefas is not coming to block any person in the party but rather his coming will enhance the chances of the party to win the governorship election in 2027.
“Consequently, the fear of old members of the All Progressives Congress that new entrants would grab everything in the party is not tenable. It won’t work based on the experience during previous elections when some people came with intention of grabbing everything at the expense of other members of the party”
Chief Kente, a governorship aspirant in Taraba State under the platform of the APC in the 2023 general elections denied allegations that he orchestrated the defection of the Taraba State Governor from the PDP to the APC.
He said that although he was under immense pressure to contest for the governor’s seat in the next election, he could not have brought in the governor to block his chances.
The APC Chieftain argued that as a critical stakeholder, he contributed to the victory of the Governor in the last election and was part of the arrangement to receive the governor into the fold of the party which is scheduled to take place later this month.
“I want to put it on record that I am a loyal member of the APC and I have been sincere since I joined the party.
“I know that I played a key role towards the emergence of my younger brother Agbu Kefas as the governor of the State in 2023. But I have paid a very high price for that because I am excluded from government completely.
“I am also aware that just a few weeks ago I said I won’t be contesting against him in 2027 except if that becomes the overwhelming position of the people of Taraba State.
“The reasons for those calling on me to contest is that since the president personally invited the governor to Join APC perhaps he has an intention taking the governor somewhere and will create a vacuum and therefore l should contest for the election.
“Let me also clarify that, as a critical stakeholder in the APC in Southern Taraba and from Wukari Local Government Area where the governor comes from we need to have Plan B.
“I am still surprised when people started accusing me of clearing the ground for his defection into the party. It is not true but since it is the wish of Mr. President and me being a loyal party man I wouldn’t have any option than to do the bidding of Mr. President,” he said.
Chief Kente further defended his gospel to the people of Taraba State to support President Tinubu in 2027.
He said his reasons was because of various reforms introduced by the president and the benefits that Taraba State stood to gain by belonging to the party of the central government.
With regards to Governor Kefas defection, Kente said that “let me make it clear that the party is large enough to accommodate everyone.”
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